Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show – Hour 2: WI Sen. Ron Johnson Blasts the Spending Bill

Release Date: May 19, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into critical discussions surrounding the current U.S. spending bill, national debt, and the political landscape. The episode features an in-depth conversation with Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, followed by an interview with Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker running for Congress in Arizona's 5th district.

Interview with Senator Ron Johnson: Critique of the "Big Beautiful Bill"

Timestamp: 02:35 – 17:56

Key Topics Covered:

• Unprecedented Spending Increases: Senator Johnson highlights the alarming rise in federal spending from $4.4 trillion to over $7 trillion within six years, marking a 58% increase (02:27).

• Deficit Concerns: He emphasizes that the primary goal should be to prevent further deficit growth and start reducing the projected national debt, which is expected to reach $59 trillion in the next decade (02:27).

• Critique of Current Budget Measures: Johnson criticizes the current spending bill for embedding COVID-related expenses into the new budget instead of scaling them back, arguing that this approach is unsustainable (03:00).

• Analogy to Family Finances: Comparing the national budget to a family's finances, Johnson illustrates the irresponsibility of continuous borrowing without addressing underlying issues (04:08).

• Mandatory vs. Discretionary Spending: He points out that while discretionary spending comprises only 25% of the budget, the majority remains on "automatic pilot," leading to unchecked increases in mandatory expenditures (07:08).

• Proposed Solutions: Johnson advocates for a meticulous, line-by-line review of federal spending to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. He references Doge's (Deficit Oversight Group's) work as a model for identifying unnecessary expenditures (08:00).

• Deficit Projections: According to Johnson, the new spending bill could escalate the national debt to $62-63 trillion over the next decade, contradicting claims from the White House and other Republicans that the bill is a "huge step forward" (07:08).

Notable Quotes:

• "The big beautiful bill, it's just mislabeled. I would think the number one goal of any of this Republican budget reconciliation would be to not increase the deficit." — Sen. Ron Johnson [02:35]

• "This is completely inadequate understanding. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get it right." — Sen. Ron Johnson [09:36]

National Debt and Fiscal Responsibility

Timestamp: 17:00 – 34:38

Key Topics Covered:

• Escalating National Debt: The podcast discusses the national debt, currently standing at around $37-38 trillion, with projections potentially soaring to $75-100 trillion in the next generation (09:36).

• Impact on Economy: Concerns are raised about the debt's impact on mortgage rates, insurance premiums, and other consumer interest rates, highlighting the broader economic repercussions of unchecked borrowing (12:37).

• Reserve Currency Status: Johnson warns about the potential loss of the U.S. dollar's status as the world's reserve currency, which could lead to higher global debt market susceptibility and increased borrowing costs (13:48).

• Credit Rating Downgrades: The episode touches on the recent downgrade of the U.S. credit rating by Moody's, indicating growing fiscal instability (13:48).

Notable Quotes:

• "The real danger is when the US Dollar is no longer the world's reserve currency." — Sen. Ron Johnson [13:48]

• "If we're not the world's reserve currency, if we just can't keep printing money, we're suddenly going to be subject to global debt markets." — Sen. Ron Johnson [13:48]

Senator Johnson’s Proposed Solutions

Timestamp: 17:00 – 34:38

Key Topics Covered:

• Detailed Budget Review: Johnson proposes a comprehensive, line-by-line examination of the federal budget, similar to corporate financial audits, to identify and eliminate wasteful spending (10:48).

• Gradual Fiscal Reforms: Instead of a one-time overhaul, he suggests phased reforms to ensure sustainable fiscal responsibility, including extending tax laws and providing debt ceiling relief without drastic increases (12:37).

• Mandatory Spending Cuts: Emphasizing the need to address mandatory expenditures like Medicaid expansion and defend against abuse at the state level, Johnson outlines specific areas where cuts are necessary (04:08).

Notable Quotes:

• "You have to do the work. You have to go line by line, contract by contract, through over a couple thousand lines of the federal budget." — Sen. Ron Johnson [10:48]

• "This is completely inadequate understanding. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get it right." — Sen. Ron Johnson [09:36]

Interview with Jay Feely: From NFL to Politics

Timestamp: 35:02 – 38:51

Key Topics Covered:

• Transition to Politics: Jay Feely discusses his decision to run for Congress in Arizona's 5th district, motivated by a desire to serve and advocate for conservative principles (26:08).

• Support for Trump and Conservative Values: Feely shares his long-standing support for President Trump and outlines his commitment to economic freedom, lower taxes, limited government, and balanced budgets (26:46).

• Social Issues in Sports: The conversation delves into Feely's stance on allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports, highlighting his belief in preserving fairness and safety in athletic competitions (28:18).

• Mental Resilience from Sports: Feely reflects on his career as an NFL kicker, emphasizing the mental discipline required to handle pressure and failure—skills he plans to bring to his political career (31:43).

Notable Quotes:

• "I'm going to stand up and be an advocate for conservative principles and the America first policy." — Jay Feely [36:44]

• "I never want to see a girl not have an opportunity because some guy decides I want to take my physical and biological advantages and go play a sport that I know that physically I'm better." — Jay Feely [29:19]

Trump's Influence on Modern Republican Politics

Timestamp: 26:31 – 38:51

Key Topics Covered:

• Shifting Political Dynamics: Feely attributes the resurgence of support for Trump among sports figures and the general public to dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's handling of COVID-19 and social policies (28:18).

• Cultural Shifts: The episode discusses how policies related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), transgender rights, and responses to movements like Black Lives Matter have alienated traditional Republican supporters (28:18).

• Changing Perceptions: There is an acknowledgment of the changing landscape where being openly supportive of Trump is now more accepted and even celebrated within certain communities, contrasting with previous eras where such support was often downplayed, especially in the sports world (27:33).

Notable Quotes:

• "We got frustrated with COVID when we lost our liberties. I think they saw the hypocrisy of the Democrat Party when you had the BLM riots and the response to destruction of people's property and their businesses and murders." — Jay Feely [28:18]

• "I think people have rejected the DEI policies and the transgender policies." — Jay Feely [28:18]

Closing Remarks and Future Discussions

Timestamp: 38:51 – End

The episode concludes with hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton teasing future segments, including discussions with Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Sapphire on President Biden’s health and the implications of recent executive orders on prescription drug prices. They also highlight upcoming interviews and encourage listeners to stay tuned for more insightful conversations.

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the current U.S. fiscal policies, emphasizing the need for responsible budgeting and the challenges posed by escalating national debt. Senator Ron Johnson provides a critical perspective on the inefficacies of the current spending bill, advocating for meticulous financial oversight. Concurrently, the interview with Jay Feely sheds light on the evolving dynamics within the Republican Party and the increasing alignment with Trump's policies, especially amidst cultural and social shifts. Listeners gain valuable insights into both the macroeconomic challenges facing the nation and the grassroots political movements shaping its future.

Notable Quotes Summary:

1. Sen. Ron Johnson:
   "The big beautiful bill, it's just mislabeled. I would think the number one goal of any of this Republican budget reconciliation would be to not increase the deficit." [02:35]

2. Sen. Ron Johnson:
   "The real danger is when the US Dollar is no longer the world's reserve currency." [13:48]

3. Jay Feely:
   "I never want to see a girl not have an opportunity because some guy decides I want to take my physical and biological advantages and go play a sport that I know that physically I'm better." [29:19]

4. Jay Feely:
   "I'm going to stand up and be an advocate for conservative principles and the America first policy." [36:44]

5. Sen. Ron Johnson:
   "This is completely inadequate understanding. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get it right." [09:36]

Note: This summary omits advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions and interviews featured in the episode.